Ukrainians in Australia
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The first significant wave of Ukrainian migration to Australia began during World War II, when many arrived from displaced persons camps in Europe. Most people who arrived in the 5-year period after 1948 were refugees, including many Ukrainian Jews.1 They came to Australia on assisted passages through the International Refugee Organization’s resettlement program, which included two-year work contracts with the Australian Government. Among the migrants were priests, lawyers, doctors and engineers, but the vast majority were people from a rural background. By 1954, the Census recorded 14,757 Ukraine-born people in Australia.1
Migration from Soviet Ukraine was minimal under the USSR until the country gained independence in 1991.2 A second wave of migration followed independence, with many young professionals seeking improved economic and employment opportunities, primarily arriving as skilled and family migrants. While migration from Ukraine to Australia decreased after the 2000s, a number of refugees have arrived since the onset of the war in Ukraine in 2022, which is not yet reflected in population data. Victoria hosts the largest Ukrainian community in Australia.3